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It’s interesting to see just how much we humans agonize over happiness. Isn’t it? We research it, we read about it, we make lists about it, we dream, goal-set, prioritize, flip-flop, argue about it, we buy colorful magazines that talk about it, we buy a lot of things for it actually, we blame, we start to loathe it sometimes, and then…sometimes, all of a sudden, it’s here!

Strange. How a few days in the sunshine and a little break from the normal routine can re-spark that zest for life. Puts it all in perspective…that life is short and every day is a step towards something better and greater. I find that it helps me to make lists of things…

…so here’s my list of things that are currently filling me up:

*Cadbury chocolate Mini-Eggs…they come out for Easter time and they are my favorite.

*A new clever book called One More Thing: Stories and other Stories by BJ Novak. It’s a collection of short stories written with wit and humor…my favorite! He was a writer for The Office and he wrote the children’s book, The Book with No Words.

*My good friend is having a baby at any moment! Her due date is today! I remember those last days of waiting were so strange and interesting and excruciating…but the wait is so worth it. Good Luck to her!!

*Um…sunshine! It’s 40 degrees here in the chilly Midwest. That, my friends, is a heat wave. I like to think I brought it back with me. I’ll take credit where credit is due.

*Yellow tulips

*FlexJobs.com…which I haven’t officially signed up for because I have to pay a monthly fee, but basically you can find freelance/telecommuting jobs with legit companies. Not scam companies. I can tell you more as I find out, but why not write some blog posts for someone part-time and get paid? Right? Write? Right?

*Coffee delivered to me by my husband while I type…yessssssssss

*Another book that I ordered that will arrive on Tuesday. It’s called Do Cool Shit (Quit your day job, Start your own business, and Live happily ever after). Pretty sweet eh? By Miki Agrawal. Not saying I’m ready to start my own business but I just really like books that break down overwhelming, larger than life events with witty, down to earth writing. Yup.

*New work digs! My job moved locations last week and we start in a new, fresh space tomorrow! It’s so strange but also super great. It’s great that we are growing and able to expand a little. Yay!

*The sketch comedy class that I’m taking online through The Second City. Let’s get weird, people.

Ok, so I didn’t get a pedicure before going on vacation. I thought I might treat myself to one while away, but I didn’t. I didn’t feel the need. Why bother? Who cares? They’re aired out for three days and then they get wrapped in warm swaddling socks until summer.

I didn’t anticipate my toes being in any pictures…you’ve all seen those annoying vacation photos of the girl’s perfectly pedicured toes in the sand. Yeah, I thought so. We know you’re on vacation…stop taking pictures of your feet and take a picture of something pretty!!! Or something boring like your dessert of creme brulee. I would rather see a million photos of the water and the waves and the sand and anything else.

I didn’t even take a picture of myself on my trip! Wait…now that I think about it, I did take a picture of my bangs sticking straight up one morning. I also had my toothbrush hanging out of my mouth. What can I say, Danger is my middle name. Yeah, baby!

My toes were not supposed to make an appearance in this picture…and I neglected to crop them out. And now, it has taken over my whole train of thought….because as I type this, those fat little cheese sticks are wiggling hello at me.

We were out on the Pier in Oceanside, gazing out into the ocean. The waves were crashing, the wind was blowing, and life was good. Surfers were paddling out and riding waves, families were watching their young ones splash on the shore. A man was feeding little fishies to a pelican and the seagulls were hovering over, waiting for a little crumb to snack on. There was even a group of people from the Sea World rescue collecting sea lions.

We had just driven through all the adorable coastal towns of Encinitas, Carlsbad, and now into Oceanside. If we kept going we would be in southern Los Angeles. Each had their own feel and their own charm. They all had their own set of characters. We could see them all from the end of the pier. We could see how long the beach stretched.

I was in awe. I was in awe because this beautiful coastline is enjoyed by people every single day. I live near one of the Great Lakes…and it is not enjoyed to this extent year round. It just isn’t. It would be if the 70 degree sunshine were smiling down on your face.

Oh man, the San Diego area is stealing my heart. You better up your game, Wisconsin…

I’m coming back here. I am. I definitely like it here. I like the beach and I like the water. I like the colors and the wind. I like how everyone says gnarly and bro. I like it. I like the laid back yet productive vibe. It’s similar to Hawaii but different….it’s as if more things get accomplished in less time and there’s more time to enjoy the sun and the beach. It’s less like ‘island time’ and more like ‘life is good.’

Now, don’t get me wrong, I still like my home. I do. I like it a few months out of the year. It seems that as I age, I get more and more bummed in the wintertime. I do not like that. I try a lot of things to get through and every year it seems to last longer and longer. Also a hunk of money will last a lot longer at home. Well, friends…

I like it here. I do. I even liked this storm that rolled in yesterday. You can see it looming on the right side of the picture. Sunshine and a storm and then back to sunshine. It was great! I like that my eyes are tired from squinting in the sun…and I like that my freckles are popping out on my nose. I like that an artist can make a good living. I like how people wear winter jackets and mittens when it drops to 50 degrees….it’s kind of cute. Ridiculous, but cute.

Cone shaped cabbages? Just what in the world (more like out-of-this-world) is going on here in California?

It’s a touch of the bizarro, I tell ya.

We stepped into Whole Foods, only to be greeted by little green, alien, conehead cabbages!

I didn’t buy one…I didn’t trust it. I figured it would surely attach itself to my vacuum cleaner and consume all of the dirt and debris. Wait, that’s not such a bad thing at all. Consume mass quantities!

Despite the rain and 55 degree temperatures here in southern California, I am quite content. I am up for anything. I have no plans…I will make little plans. I seem to always have plans and responsibilities and children and people to tend to. Today…I do not. And I am going to enjoy it, dammit.

My friend and her husband are graciously hosting me here in Del Mar, outside of San Diego. It is gorgeous! Why doesn’t everyone live here? Why do people choose to stay in the arctic winter that is the Midwest? I don’t know….It seems pretty wonderful. The beach, the sun, the green and blue, the never-ending supply of local, organic produce….heaven.

Yesterday, after I arrived, we ate brunch at a place called Snooze. Don’t you want to eat brunch at a place called Snooze? Yes, yes you do.

We then strolled a farmer’s market and browsed through adorable art galleries and boutiques. I had visions of opening up a fun little shop with coffee, art, comedy, and good vibes. The rain drops splattered on my glasses and it felt great. It felt great to feel rain and not snow, to feel a chilly rainy California day over a bitter blast of below zero winds.

I was worn out from travelling but wanted to soak it all in. After our peaceful strolls, we snuggled up on the couch and enjoyed some pizza, a cocktail and a little Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery. Yes, yes we did. We laughed at how much we remembered about the movie and also at the parts that we’d forgotten.